The lurid engagement on the large 25p stamp is probably that known as the Battle of Cap de la Hogue, 1692, (more correctly Barfleur). Monamy, the artist, was only a child at that time.
King Louis of France was preparing for an invasion of England. He had a vast army and the French fleet, commanded by Tourville, was cruising about with a view to covering the invasion fleet and giving battle to the British if occasion demanded it, To counter this threat, a combined English and Dutch fleet of just under 100 sail, commanded by Admiral Russell, went to seek out the Frenchmen.
The French Admiral sighted this fleet and drew off to his own coast to protect his transports. The Allied Fleet followed and battle opened on May 17. The French line was broken and drew off after severe fighting. The English, followed and after the enemy had lost several ships blown up and sunk, night came on and many Frenchmen made their escape through the shoals to St. Malo. Next morning both fleets were near the shoals of La Hague, many of the Frenchmen had driven ashore here and elswhere. A boat attack was made and many more of the French vessels were destroyed including their flagship, Soleil Royal. For five days the fight continued and La Hague was left a sheet of flame; 16 of the finest ships of France were destroyed, with numbers of smaller ships and transports. The immediate threat of invasion was removed. It is thought probable that the ship in the foreground of the 25p stamp is the flagship of Admiral Edward Russell, Britannia, a 1st Rate of 100 guns, the first of her name in the Royal Navy. She was built at Chatham Dockyard in 1682, 1,739 tons builders' measurement; length 167 ft.; beam 48 ft. Regarded as the finest ship of her day when built, her figurehead was in keeping with this opinion. It was a most elaborate design, an effigy of His Majesty King Charles II, on horseback, with a wreath of laurel round his head and the arm raised, sword in hand, ready to strike. In the Barfleur fighting, she was commanded by Capt. John Fletcher, flew the flag of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward Russell, and carried also Capt. David Mitchell, captain of the fleet and was the senior flagship of the Anglo-Dutch Allies fighting France. In 1696 the Britannia flew the flag of Admiral Lord Berkeley as the head of a fleet operating against the French coast from Belle Isle to the Isle de Re. The Britannia was laid up in 1697, and broken up in 1715, her frames being used for the next ship.
SG118 Sea Breezes 11/74